An ECU executes a program including a step of turning on an SMRP and an A-SMRP if an ignition switch is turned on; a step of detecting voltage values VB(1) and VB(2) of running batteries when VH is detected and if VH is higher than 180 V; a step of detecting that SMRP connected to the running battery is welded, if VB(1) is higher than 150 V; and a step of detecting that A-SMRB connected to the running battery is welded, if VB(2) is higher than 150 V.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A control device for a plurality of power supply circuits including power storage mechanisms and a plurality of relays, each of said power supply circuits including a circuit that has a first relay controlling electric conduction/non-conduction between a load and one electrode of the power storage mechanism and a resistor connected in series to said first relay, a second relay connected in parallel to said circuit, and a third relay controlling electric conduction/non-conduction between the load and another electrode of the power storage mechanism, said control device comprising: a voltage detection unit detecting a voltage value of said load; a processing unit performing a precharge process, upon power supply startup, by causing a conductive state of said first relay and said third relay before causing the conductive state of said second relay and said third relay in each of said power supply circuits, so that a capacitor provided in parallel to said load and being an object of the precharge process is charged up to a charging level in such a way that a failure does not occur in said power supply circuit when electric power is supplied without passing through said resistor, and that the charging level is lower than full charging; a full-charge processing unit fully charging said capacitor, after performing said precharge process, with the charging of the capacitor from said charging level lower than full charging to full charging divided in accordance with a charging rate of the capacitor, by sequentially using said second relay and said third relay in each of said power supply circuits; and a detection unit detecting immobility of any of said second relay and said third relay in each of said plurality of power supply circuits, before said capacitor is fully charged, based on at least one of the detected voltage value of the load and the charging rate of the capacitor.
A control system for multiple power supply circuits, each with a power storage, includes a voltage sensor, a precharge process, a full-charge process, and a relay failure detector. Each power supply circuit has three relays: one with a series resistor and two without. On startup, the precharge process activates the first and third relays to partially charge a capacitor connected to the load, limiting inrush current. Afterward, the full-charge process activates the second and third relays to fully charge the capacitor in steps related to the capacitor's charging rate. Before full charge, the system monitors the load voltage and capacitor charging rate. If the voltage or rate is too low, the system detects a failure in the second or third relay.
2. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein said full-charge processing unit performs a full-charge process, with division performed corresponding to a number of said plurality of power supply circuits.
The control system described above performs the full-charge process, where the capacitor is charged from a partial charge to a full charge using the second and third relays, in steps corresponding to the number of power supply circuits. So if there are four power supply circuits, the charging is divided into four corresponding steps.
3. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein said detection unit detects immobility of any of said second relay and said third relay of the power supply circuit that supplies electric power to said capacitor when said capacitor is charged with division.
The control system described above includes a failure detection unit that specifically identifies a stuck or non-operational state in the second or third relay of the power supply circuit that is actively supplying power to the capacitor during the divided charging process. This allows for pinpointing which circuit is experiencing relay failure during the charging cycle.
4. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein within a time determined in advance from start of conduction, when the voltage value of said load fails to reach a threshold value, or when the charging rate of said capacitor fails to reach a threshold rate determined in advance, said detection unit detects immobility of any of said second relay and said third relay in the power supply circuit that supplies electric power to said capacitor.
The control system described above detects a failure of either the second or third relay if, within a predefined time window after activation, either the voltage across the load fails to reach a predetermined minimum threshold, or the charging rate of the capacitor doesn't meet a pre-set minimum charging rate. This failure detection applies to the power supply circuit actively charging the capacitor.
5. A control device for a plurality of power supply circuits including power storage mechanisms and a plurality of relays, each of said power supply circuits including a circuit that has a first relay controlling electric conduction/non-conduction between a load and one electrode of the power storage mechanism and a resistor connected in series to said first relay, a second relay connected in parallel to said circuit, and a third relay controlling electric conduction/non-conduction between the load and another electrode of the power storage mechanism, said control device comprising: a voltage detection unit detecting a voltage value of said load; a precharge processing unit performing a precharge process, by sequentially using each of said power supply circuits, upon power supply startup, with a charging of a capacitor divided in accordance with a charging rate of the capacitor, the capacitor provided in parallel to said load and being an object of the precharge process, the precharge process being performed by causing a conductive state of said first relay and said third relay before causing the conductive state of said second relay and said third relay in each of said power supply circuits; and a detection unit detecting immobility of any of said first relay and said third relay in each of said plurality of power supply circuits, based on at least one of the detected voltage value of the load and the charging rate of the capacitor during said precharge process performed as divided.
A control system for multiple power supply circuits, each with a power storage, includes a voltage sensor, a precharge process, and a relay failure detector. Each power supply circuit has three relays: one with a series resistor and two without. On startup, the precharge process sequentially utilizes each power supply circuit to charge a capacitor connected to the load in steps related to the capacitor's charging rate. The precharge process activates the first and third relays before activating the second and third relays. The system monitors the load voltage and capacitor charging rate. If the voltage or rate is too low, the system detects a failure in the first or third relay.
6. The control device according to claim 5 , wherein said precharge processing unit performs the precharge process, as divided corresponding to a number of said plurality of power supply circuits.
The control system described above performs the precharge process, where a capacitor connected to a load is charged using multiple power supply circuits in steps, with the number of steps corresponding to the number of power supply circuits available.
7. The control device according to claim 5 , wherein said detection unit detects immobility of any of said first relay and said third relay of the power supply circuit that supplies electric power to said capacitor when charging of said capacitor is performed as divided.
The control system described above includes a failure detection unit that specifically identifies a stuck or non-operational state in the first or third relay of the power supply circuit that is actively supplying power to the capacitor during the divided charging process. This pinpoints which circuit is experiencing relay failure during the pre-charge cycle.
8. The control device according to claim 5 , wherein within a time determined in advance from start of conduction, when the voltage value of said load fails to reach a threshold value, or when the charging rate of said capacitor fails to reach a threshold rate determined in advance, said detection unit detects immobility of any of said first relay and said third relay in the power supply circuit that supplies electric power to said capacitor.
The control system described above detects a failure of either the first or third relay if, within a predefined time window after activation, either the voltage across the load fails to reach a predetermined minimum threshold, or the charging rate of the capacitor doesn't meet a pre-set minimum charging rate. This failure detection applies to the power supply circuit actively charging the capacitor.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
December 14, 2012
July 2, 2013
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